In-line coupler



Aug. 25, 1959 c s JR 2,900,688

IN-LINE COUPLER Filed June 26, 1958 INVENTOR.

United States Patent lN-LINE COUPLER Druery F. Hicks, Jr., Maywood, Calif. Application June 26, 1958, Serial No. 744,851

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-125) The invention relates to couplings and has particular reference to a coupling of such type that it can be applied to what may be termed an endless line or cable at any point intermediate the ends for the purpose of attaching thereto either the end or mid-portion of another line or cable.

It frequently becomes necessary, especially in connection with electrical wiring, to splice the end of a wire into a mid-section of another wire under circumstances where the last-mentioned wire cannot be cut. Various types of splicers or in-line couplers have been designed in an attempt to provide such a device but to a large degree the devices heretofore developed have either been too complicated to permit the coupling to be made quickly or unnecessarily costly, thereby limiting their use. It has also been found true that in-line couplers or splicers to a large degree have been time-consuming in their use to a prohibitive degree. Those which have been made for quick application have been too insecure to be relied upon under all circumstances.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide .anew and improved in-line coupler which employs' essentially a minimum number of parts and which is of'such design and construction that it is capable of connecting together either a wire end to an endless wire or connecting a multiple number of endless wires at a single junction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved in-line coupler or splicing device which is rugged in its structural make-up and sufiiciently simple in its operation to permit the coupling or splice to be made with a great degree of rapidity.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and'improved in-line coupler or splicing device which is positive-acting with respect to its interlock to an extent such that once the coupler is applied to the wires or lines, the coupling itself will not be subject to disengagement except when the parts are expressly released in the prescribed manner.

Still further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved in-line coupler or splicer of such construction that it can be readily adapted to wires of small or large diameter without any material change being made in the structure of the device itself.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the coupler applied to two endless Wires.

Figure 2 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side perspective view of the device with the wires removed.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the linev a plate 13 on opposite sides of which are flanges 14 and:

15, essentially parallel to each other and of special configuration. The flange 14, for example, may be described as a projection of trapezoidal shape and the flange 15 as one containing an opening 16 likewise trapezoidal and matching precisely the configuration of the projectionof trapezoidal shape on the opposite side. Similarly the body member 11 may be described as comprising a plate 17 on opposite sides of which are flanges 18 and 19. Here again the flange 18 may be described as a projection of trapezoidal shape wherein the long parallel side 20 forms the outermost edge and the short parallel side 21 the junction of the projection with the plate 17. On the opposite side the flange 19 is provided with an opening having the shape of a trapezoid precise 1y equal to the shape of the projection 18. By making use of flanges having the breadth shown to good advantage in Figures 3 and 4 it will be apparent that matching the body members face to face as shown provides a chamber 22 having an open end 23 on one side precisely opposite a corresponding open end on the other side (not shown).

In the body member 10, for example, there is provided a threaded hole 24 extending clear through the plate 13 in which the set screw 12 correspondingly threaded is mounted. May it further be noted that the length of the set screw 12 is greater than the thickness of the plate but slightly less than the aggregate thickness of the plate and flange 14 such that when the set screw is screwed in flush with the outside face of the plate a very slight clearance may be maintained. This permits the set screw to be screwed down flush with the exterior in most conditions of use.

When the device is to be made use of the body mem-- bers 10 and 11 are separated entirely from each other and the set screw is loosened so that the inner end is more or less flush with the inside face of the plate 13.

Wires 28 and 29 free of insulation 30 and 31 are placed between the flanges 18 and 19 of the body member 11. Although two wires only are shown, it will be appreciated that as many wires can be placed within the device as the size of wire and size of chamber 22 will admit.

After the wires have thus been placed in the body member 11, the body member 10 is applied'thereto by moving it transversely with the plates 13 and 17 parallel to each other and so that the projection or flange 14 gages the opening in the flange 19 at the same time that the projection which is the flange 18 engages the opening 16 in the flange 15. This can be a brief sliding motion which begins by placing the flange 14 just inside of the flange 19- so that it clears any wires within the chamber 22. It will be apparent, therefore, that it is necessary to slide the flanges a distance no greater than the thickness of one of the flanges. This brings the opposite body members into the engaged relationship shown in Figures 1 and 2 containing the wires as defined Which is the same relationship shown in Figures 3 and 4 wherein for the sake of clarity the wires have been omitted.

While the body members are held in the engaged position last described, the set screw 12 is screwed into place firmly against the wires 28 and 29. Forcing the set screw against the wires improves the tightness of the contact and where the wires are electrical wires, conduction be tween them is assured.

It will further be noted that by reference to Figure 2, for example, the outside diameter of the set screw is greater than the smallest dimension of the trapezoidal opening in the respective flanges so that the body members cannot be slid apart because of the'interposition of the set screw between them. Further, by reference to Figure 4, for example, it will be noted that the diameter of the set screw is so great that very little play is left between the inside face of one or another of the flanges and the set screw. Thus constructed the snugness of the joint is considerably improved since the body members cannot be worked to any material degree one with respect to the other, thereby to inadvertently loosen the joint.

The set screw therefore serves a double purpose making firm contact with the wires held in the coupling or splice and physically preventing separation of the body members which form the coupling.

When the device is to be released, it is necessary only to release the set screw 12 far enough to permit the body members to be slid over each other until the projections clear the flanges, after which the parts can be separated and the wires removed.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the coupling is positive and quick acting and of parts so simple that they can be constructed inexpensively in quantity. Moreover, by making the parts matching halves, the body members can be identical in every respect except that one is provided with a threaded hole for the set screw. A highly efiective and convenient connection for both electrical and other endless lines is thus assured.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices. Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A coupler for attaching wires together, at least one of which is continuous comprising matching complementary body members and a releasable anchor element attached to one of said members, said members comprising each an outer plate, a pair of parallel flanges spaced from each other on opposite edges of the plate and forming a chamber therebetween having opposite open ends for reception of the wires, each flange having an edge attached to the plate and a free edge, one of said flanges of each member having a trapezoidal shaped opening therethrough with the long parallel side of said opening adjacent the edge attached to the plate and zit the other of said flanges of each member including a projection of corresponding trapezoidal shape with the long parallel side of said projection at the free edge, said projection being in alignment with and matching the opening, said members being slidable transversely of the flanges into positions wherein respectively complementary flanges are in engagement, said wires being received in the chambers during sliding of the members into position, and means forming an aperture through the plate of one of said members receptive of said anchor element to a position between the respective flanges whereby the wires are anchored in engagement with each other and to the plate and the members are anchored against disengagement.

2. A coupler for attaching wires together, at least one of which is continuous comprising matching complementary body members and an anchor element comprising a threaded plug attached to one of said members, said members comprising each an outer plate, a pair of parallel flanges spaced from each other on opposite edges of the plate and forming a chamber therebetween having opposite open ends for reception of the wires, each of said flanges having an edge joined to the plate and a free edge, one of said flanges of each member having a trapezoidal shaped opening therethrough with the long parallel side of said opening adjacent the edge joined to said plate and the other of said flanges of each member including a projection of corresponding trapezoidal shape with the long parallel side of the projection at the free edge, said projection being in alignment with and matching the opening, said members being slidable transversely of the flanges into positions wherein respectively complementary flanges are in engagement, said wires being received in the chambers during sliding of the members into position, and means forming a threaded aperture through the plate of one of said members receptive of said threaded plug, said plug being extendible through the plate to a position between the respective flanges, said plug being greater in diameter than the length of the trapezoidal shaped openings, whereby the wires are anchored in engagement with each other and to the plate and the members are anchored against disengagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,069,94 Gruber Aug. 12, 1913 1,976,533 Aflleck et al. Oct. 9, 1934 2,044,679 Frese June 16, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 291,228 Great Britain May 31, 1928 

